Frequently Asked Questions

Contra Dancing FAQ

It's super fun but really hard to describe: check out this
video, then come to our dance and give it a try!
Beginners are always welcome at our dances.

I've never contra danced before. What should I bring with
me?

Enthusiasm!

Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to sweat some; it's a
good idea to bring an extra shirt, especially in the summer.

Bring a clean pair of shoes to change into, in order to protect
the floor. Many dancers prefer suede or leather soles, but
sneakers are fine—you don't need anything special, just avoid
tracking in grit from outside.

BIDA FAQ

What does BIDA stand for?

Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates

How do you pronounce "BIDA," anyway?

"BYE-da"

Where is your dance and how can I get there?

We're accessible by public transportation! Most of our dances are held
at the Cambridge Masonic Hall, 1950
Mass Ave Cambridge, which is less than a block from the
Porter Square stop on the Red Line. For other public transit
options try Google
Maps transit directions. If you prefer to drive, on-street
parking is free on Sundays, with no permit required.

Whaddaya mean, "intergenerational?"

We want to encourage everyone to socialize and dance with people from
different generations, in order to share their enthusiasm and
experience, and to have fun! We think our dance community will benefit
from breaking down barriers that seem to exist between generations.
You have all these goals: how do you make them work?
We hold a variety of different events, some of which focus on certain
goals more than others. As a whole, we make sure that all of our
events work towards our primary goal of developing community.
Our potlucks and parties allow people to socialize informally, and we
encourage people to wear nametags at our events. We post etiquette and
dance style posters encouraging everyone to think about how they can
improve their own dancing and raise the dancing level of the
community, and we also ask our callers to give style and
dance-improvement tips from the mic. Our mentoring program cultivates
opportunities for experienced performers to share their knowledge with
newcomers, which also strengthens everyone's ties to the
community.

How can I get involved in BIDA?

Thanks for asking! We'd love to have you get involved. There are lots
of opportunities available for dancers, musicians, callers, and
organizers, whatever level of experience or interest you might
have. Check out our "Get Involved"
page for details!

How can I start something like this in my area?

First, figure out what your goals are, and how a new dance
organization can benefit your community. Then, check out the
amazing "starter kit" resources
provided by the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). These
cover all sorts of dance-related topics, and the section on
organizing community dances is especially helpful if you want to
start an organization like BIDA. And feel free to email us at
bida@bidadance.org. We'll be happy to share any
experience or ideas that we have, and we are always interested
in learning about what other groups are doing.